Health officials close Bird Creek County beach

Published 8:00 pm, Tuesday, July 8, 2008

PORT AUSTIN — Officials closed the beach at Bird Creek County Park on Tuesday because the Huron County Health Department found high levels of E. coli in shallow water samples taken Monday.

Huron County Environmental Health Director Dale Lipar said the geometric mean of test results from three samples taken in shallow waters at the beach Monday came back showing 1,694 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water.

According to the standards used for shallow water beach testing, a beach is closed if the daily geometric mean of three samples collected in 12 inches of water exceeds 1,000 E. coli colonies per 100 ml. of water. About 30 ml. equal 1 fluid ounce.

When a beach is closed because tests show E. coli levels in shallow waters are higher than the 1,000 E. coli colonies per 100 ml. of water limit, it means the beach is not safe for total contact, and the shallow waters may contribute to illness in small children or individuals with weakened immune systems who have direct contact with the water to complete submergence (particular if their head is immersed in the water), or who are at considerable risk of ingesting water.

Lipar said samples collected Monday in deeper waters at the beach at Bird Creek County Park were within safe limits. But, because the shallow water test results were so high, the beach had to be closed, he said.

In order for a beach to be closed because of unsafe E. coli levels found in deep waters, the daily geometric mean of the three samples collected in 3 to 6 feet of water cannot exceed 300 E. coli colonies per 100 ml. of water.

The geometric mean of the three samples collected Monday in deep waters at Bird Creek were 87 E. coli colonies per 100 ml. of water, Lipar said.

He said it’s unclear why E. coli levels found in the shallow waters at that beach were so high Monday — especially since there hasn’t been any severe weather recently.

One thing that may have contributed to the high levels, however, could be the amount of geese that have been at that beach. Their droppings may have accumulated near the shoreline. Lipar said.

Lipar said the health department’s going to resample the beach’s shallow waters Wednesday.

“We should have results Thursday early afternoon,” he said.

This is the health department’s third week of beach water testing. Lipar said six of the county’s beaches were tested Monday and those test results came back showing safe levels Tuesday. The other six of the area’s beaches were tested Tuesday, and results from those beaches will be available Wednesday afternoon, he said.

This is the first time the health department has closed any beach this summer because of high E. coli levels.

Last week, health officials released shallow water advisories for the beaches at Caseville County Park, Lighthouse County Park and Oak Beach County Park.

In the past, the health department has issued advisories warning the public to avoid ingesting any mucky waters, and to wash with soap and water if someone comes in contact with any muck on the beach.